A senior research fellow from the New Zealand Initiative has questioned why a promising literacy programme isn't used widely across Aotearoa.
Recent statistics have shown a decline in achievement for most year levels in Aotearoa's school, but on Wednesday Education Minister Jan Tinetti said the rollout of the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA) has provided "better results than we have ever seen before".
"In fact, I could've only dreamt of the results we're seeing at the moment when I was in the sector," Tinetti told AM on Wednesday.
The minister's statement was challenged on AM, and on Thursday the Ministry of Education provided details of the programme.
MoE says the BSLA is an evidence-based classroom approach for year levels 0 to 2.
"The approach supports the professional development of teachers and literacy specialists to improve children's early reading, writing and oral language in success."
The ministry found the BSLA has "significantly accelerated growth" in students' foundational literacy skills compared to children of the same age who didn't receive BSLA.
It also found growth relative to baseline skills at school entry is "particularly high for Māori and Pasifika children".
"The relative change in foundational skills is approximately 1.2 to 2.2 times greater for Māori and Pasifika as compared to NZ European learners."
New Zealand Initiative senior research fellow Michael Johnston told AM it's been known for 20 years that the approach works and is perplexed as to why the programme isn't in all primary schools.
"On one hand, I'm really pleased to see that it's being rolled out and that teachers can learn effective methods for teaching literacy. But why aren't we seeing it across the whole primary school?"
Johnston wonders how it will be embedded into teacher education and training.
"Because every primary school teacher, not just for the first couple of years, should be hitting the ground in the classroom with knowledge of these methods well under their belt."
The senior fellow says the data released to AM proves BSLA should be expanded across the motu.
"Absolutely. And critically, how do we get it into what teachers, new teachers learn when they're being trained."
The MoE said since February 2021, more than 40,000 children have been involved in BSLA through 827 primary schools across the motu.
It added 1583 teachers and 317 literacy specialists have completed their BSLA micro-credential training. With 1498 teachers and 252 literacy specialists currently working towards theirs.
Watch Johnston's full interview above.
